EU agrees launch of accession process for Ukraine and Moldova

The European Union has agreed to resume accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, with talks set to begin next week in Luxembourg after ambassadors from all 27 member states reached consensus on opening the first cluster of negotiations.

In a joint social media post, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "All member states agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova."

The decision marks a breakthrough after the accession process had been delayed by opposition from Hungary under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government, says Al Jazeera.

The obstacle was removed after Hungary's new government, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, agreed to lift the veto following an agreement with Kyiv concerning the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian ethnic minority.

Magyar has said, however, that Hungary does not support a fast-track process for Ukraine's membership bid. He has indicated that Budapest would likely hold a referendum on Ukraine joining the bloc only if the country "succeeds in closing all 33 accession chapters within the next 10 to 15 years".

Ukraine and Moldova, both former Soviet republics, regard membership of the European Union as an important safeguard against Russia, which considers influence over the two countries central to its security interests.

Costa and von der Leyen described the resumption of negotiations as a strategic decision and an acknowledgement of progress made by both candidates. "This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges," they said.

"Enlargement is a strategic choice," the two leaders added. "In a world marked by growing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest."

Formal accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova were opened in June 2024, but progress has been slow as the process requires candidates to align their laws and institutions with EU standards across a wide range of policy areas.

Negotiations are due to begin on Monday with the "fundamentals" cluster, covering core areas including governance, the rule of law and adherence to the European Union's basic values.

The accession process is expected to take years, with negotiations spanning sectors from agriculture and trade to judicial reforms and regulatory standards.